PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kendrick Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Sturgis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Carroll
vs
Sturgis

183 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kendrick Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Sturgis!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sturgis throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Carroll tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sturgis is in Carroll's guard.
Sturgis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sturgis wants to control from the top but Carroll keeps moving.
Sturgis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sturgis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sturgis trying to control the position from guard on top but Carroll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturgis throwing strikes from guard but Carroll blocks nicely.
Sturgis won't allow Carroll to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturgis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carroll swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sturgis gets a double leg takedown into Carroll's guard.
Sturgis wants to control from the top but Carroll keeps moving.
Sturgis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carroll is keeping the position for now.

Sturgis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sturgis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sturgis trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sturgis drops back looking for a leg! Carroll is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carroll manages to kick Sturgis off! Sturgis jumps back into Carroll's guard.
Sturgis trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.
Sturgis advances position into side control!
Sturgis looking to control but instead Carroll has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sturgis is looking for submissions but instead, Carroll has regained full guard.
Sturgis is stalling in the full guard.
Sturgis pushes down on Carroll's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Sturgis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Carroll has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sturgis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sturgis is trying to control the action in half guard but Carroll is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sturgis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sturgis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Sturgis dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carroll drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sturgis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Carroll avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Carroll got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sturgis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Carroll has managed to get both his arms back between Sturgis's legs - danger averted.
Carroll looking to sit in guard and control but Sturgis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sturgis is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Carroll is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Carroll has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturgis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carroll.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sturgis is looking for a triangle but Carroll pushes his legs off easily.
Carroll with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sturgis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Carroll is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Carroll throws an elbow that misses. Sturgis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Carroll's guard. Nice move by Sturgis!

Sturgis passes Carroll's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Carroll is not content to let Sturgis control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sturgis is working for a submission of some sort.
Sturgis is breathing heavily.

Sturgis is trying to work for a kimura but Carroll is defending well.
Carroll is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sturgis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sturgis's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll gets his hands free as Sturgis looks to control.
Sturgis rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sturgis gets back to full guard.
Carroll postures up in Sturgis's guard and throws a big left but Sturgis blocks it.

Sturgis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carroll is aware though and is defending well.
Sturgis keeping moving, preventing Carroll from controlling successfully.

Sturgis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carroll doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carroll manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Carroll passes into half guard.
Sturgis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturgis tries to kick Carroll off but Carroll keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sturgis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Carroll.
Carroll thows a huge punch but Sturgis dodges it nicely.
Carroll sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sturgis defending well though.
Sturgis is refusing to be controlled, as Carroll sits in half guard.
Sturgis is trying to control but can't.
Carroll controlling the action here.
Carroll lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carroll is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Sturgis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sturgis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Carroll manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sturgis trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sturgis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturgis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sturgis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carroll is keeping the position for now.
Sturgis throwing strikes from guard but Carroll blocks nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sturgis throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carroll was covering up waiting for the punch and Sturgis finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Carroll looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturgis trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.

Sturgis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Carroll manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sturgis has Carroll in his guard.

Sturgis has his foot on Carroll's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Carroll works his way back into a safe position though.

Sturgis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sturgis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Carroll gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Carroll postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Carroll scoring with punches to the head and body.
Carroll scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sturgis is trying to keep Carroll in close.
Carroll stands up over Sturgis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Carroll stands up over Sturgis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Carroll is working Sturgis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sturgis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sturgis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carroll can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Carroll trying to control the position from guard on top but Sturgis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carroll working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Carroll keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sturgis's head.
Michael Sturgis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Carroll's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carroll is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sturgis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kendrick Carroll.
Well Sturgis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Sturgis!